SOD HUT PHOTO INSPIRES NOVEL

  

.

Ann Weisgarber, the author of ‘The Personal History of Rachel Dupree’ says a haunting picture of an African-American woman in a sod hut in South Dakota drove her to write a novel about a pioneering African-American woman, homesteading on the frontier in the early 1900s.

          Her novel was the chosen book for the 5th Annual Community Read of Washington County.  Ms. Weisgarber presented her book last (Tuesday) night at the Unity Theater.

          She says she was touring the Badlands and saw a picture of an unidentified woman, sitting in that hut, and she could not get the image out of her mind.

          Hundreds came out to have their books signed, and to hear actors portray the characters and incidents in the novel.

          Judge Eddie Harrison and Margaret Harrison were the honorary chairs of this year’s Community Read.  Judge Harrison is a local expert on the ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ and one of the major characters in ‘The Personal History of Rachel Dupree’ is a Buffalo Soldier.

          The Community Read is an annual event by Lifetime Learning to have the entire county read the same book at once for the common literary experience.

 

What’s your Reaction?
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0
Back to top button